Chapter 55

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Translator: Ace

Chapter: 55

Chapter Title: Bootleg Body Change

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In Chronicle Terradium, there was a concept called Body Change.

It literally meant swapping bodies, something that could be roughly equated to the idea of huan gu tuo tai in classical terms.

Because the notion of transforming into the optimal physical state for cultivating power was remarkably similar.

The differences? Body Change didn't come with the cracking of bones.

And your consciousness persisted even as the body transformed.

'But... is this really a Body Change?'

Ian pondered it carefully, but it didn't quite fit.

This wasn't the result of pure training.

It was an artificial enhancement, so calling it a bootleg Body Change seemed about right.

In any case, Ian was in the midst of experiencing this knockoff version.

The first change to hit was organ reinforcement.

His internal organs were getting tougher.

Who knew if it was really happening? But the system said so, so it must be true.

'Does that mean I can abuse my body now and barely get sick?'

That would be fantastic.

A long, healthy life was the greatest blessing, after all.

The changes kept coming.

The initial intense pain had gradually faded long ago, leaving only faint echoes.

Ian was observing these changes like he was watching a surgery scene in a medical drama.

'I wonder what'll change next.'

He'd thrown in ultra-rare ingredients that were a pain to even acquire.

This couldn't be the end.

Mana capacity didn't increase, it seemed.

Well, his mana pool was already top-tier; no one could match it.

'Huh?'

Boom!

It felt like he heard a thud.

It wasn't his imagination.

A real sound echoed from inside his body.

'Wha-what?'

Ian broke out in cold sweat.

Well, with his eyes closed, he couldn't tell.

But he was probably sweating bullets.

'Looks like I'm screwed...'

Ian's body went limp. Strangely, his thoughts didn't cease. What was going on?

[GAME OV...]

Kzzt!

'Heh heh. I survived!'

Ian was filled with elation.

'Of course it activated!'

He couldn't see it, but something bizarre was happening in the lab.

A bright red gem in the corner of the room slithered over, seeped into Ian's exploded body, and his flesh began regenerating rapidly.

Finally, Ian opened his eyes.

Feeling his unusually light body and clear mind, he grinned.

A lot had changed.

He'd even died and come back.

But the best part?

'Heh heh. Alchemy level up, as expected.'

He was no longer a 'Skilled Alchemist'.

What could be more joyous than this!

In conclusion, it wasn't as dramatic a transformation as a true huan gu tuo tai or Body Change.

The changes? Tougher internals, clearer head, smoother mana flow. That was about it.

For a change paid with death, the cost-performance was absurdly poor, but Ian couldn't care less.

That reinforcement had netted him over 1,000 Alchemy experience points.

'Finally shedding the 'Skilled Alchemist' label!'

What was Alchemy level 13?

'Whoa! Master Alchemist!'

The naming alone was leagues above 'Skilled'.

In English terms, Skilled was Expert, Master was... well, Master.

'A genuine Master Alchemist!'

Of course, this world had no such distinctions as Expert or Master Alchemist.

But so what?

He could call himself whatever he wanted.

Who was he?

Master Alchemist.

'At level 16, Grand Master Alchemist?'

Ian dismissed the status window, fantasizing about hurling potions to slay dragons. Time to check his new traits.

First up: the one from his reinforced brain.

[Resilient Mind]

- Type: Trait

- Rank: Special

- Description: A resilient mind dwelling in a blessed body

- Effect: Massive boost to mental corruption resistance. Reduced damage from mental attacks.

'Oh, nice!'

Mental corruption resistance was a rare option, hard to come by.

Plus mental attack damage reduction? Prime trait.

[Multiple Circuits]

- Type: Trait

- Rank: Heroic

- Description: Magnum opus born from powerful mana and blessed power merging.

- Effect: Mana circuits evolve into complex multiple circuits. Immune to backlash from power clashes.

'Hmm. An evolution-type trait.'

In simple terms, his mana circuits had upgraded to a superior version.

'Multiple Circuits... does that mean better multi-casting?'

Multi-casting meant casting multiple different spells simultaneously.

Ian could already handle it effortlessly.

Double-casting? Triple? Piece of cake.

Could this make quad or higher a breeze?

'Let's test it right now.'

Three was easy as pie, four was barely doable with low-tier spells, so straight to five or more.

Ian gaped as he cast. In just one second, all six spells fired off simultaneously?

"In-insane. Is this even possible?"

Six wasn't impossible with strain.

But simultaneous? No way. There was always a sequence.

Yet this multi-cast had no sequence. All six at once.

And the kicker? Not a hint of strain.

'So this is what Multiple Circuits feels like.'

Just one test, and Ian knew.

Multiple Circuits was as valuable as his Alchemy level-up.

'If I can apply this to alchemy...'

Ian soon lost himself in delightful daydreams.

"Kez, I'm off. Guard the house well."

"Yes, have a wonderful day, keruk."

Early morning. As Ian exited the mansion gates toward the palace, Kez's eyes sharpened.

'Must hurry even more today.'

Lately, time for Alchemi Merchant House affairs had dwindled. Ian's return was earlier.

Used to be past 6:30 PM; now at least an hour sooner.

'Finish before the master returns.'

Using spatial transfer magic to the Alchemi HQ, Kez summoned the executives.

"You're here, Merchant Lord."

"Damage report?"

"Fortunately, minimal losses on our end. Formal sales should proceed without issue."

"Good."

Who could've foreseen it?

Right when sales of the household spirit 'Scrubby' kicked off, a noble purge hits.

He'd worried about fallout, but none, thankfully.

"Excellent. Proceed as planned. Formal sales next week—stay sharp. It'll get busy."

"Th-there's another issue."

"What?"

"Some nobles complain Scrubby isn't working right."

"Not working? Defective?"

"That's their claim. Ridiculous, of course."

Kez nodded at the executive's words. No defects; they'd checked meticulously, repeatedly.

Yet defective?

"What exactly fails?"

"Won't clear trash."

"Anything else?"

"Color turned dingy, like stained. Noble ladies loved its cuteness, but now it's ugly—demanding refunds, furious."

"Hm."

Kez stroked his chin, tilting his head. Baffling.

'Not cleaning, and color change like stained?'

Absurd. Scrubby had contamination purification.

'No flaws in purification. Means external factor impaired it.'

External factor hampers purification, so no cleaning—like appetite loss from illness.

Perfectly natural for Scrubby.

'External factor causing purification defect... what could...'

Kez's face hardened.

"Got it."

"Pardon?"

'Black magic.'

The central nobles purged for black magic obsession.

That was it.

If an undetected black mage among customers?

'Scrubby ingested leaking demonic energy, mistaking it for contaminant.'

Pure speculation, no proof.

But conviction strong.

No other reason for Scrubby to malfunction.

Maybe abuse for refund, but unlikely.

'Commoners or minor nobles, maybe. Central nobles? Reputation risk too high.'

Nobles abhorred scandal.

"Ron."

"Yes, Merchant Lord."

"Recall all 'defective' Scrubbies, replace with newly reinforced ones."

"Understood."

"And hand over the recalled Scrubbies and customer lists to me."

"Yes."

Watching his diligent staff, Kez smirked meaningfully.

'This could be an opportunity. Kuhuhu.'